The juicy buns are better than any I could find in Manhattan Chinatown. After living in Brooklyn for 8 years this became one of my very favorite places in the city. Its more than just a restaurant, I remember it fondly and it remains one of my mandatory stops when I visit the city. read more

Three things: 1. Soup Dumplings 2. Cucumber salad 3. Believe. The only other soup dumplings I've had that rival M Shanghai was in the Queens Chinatown. The stray cats in the adjacent alley are cute, also. I'm pretty sure they lick and survive off the oils and leftovers from M Shanghai, so they got it pretty good. read more

Came here on a Wednesday night around 6pm for dinner with my S.O. The restaurant was practically empty. With 4 long picnic style tables and two small tables in the corners, we had the free will to sit wherever we wanted. I was glad we were early because had it been later in the evening, the odds of sitting with a stranger were great. Service was quick and friendly. I ordered the pan fried dumplings to start. The dumplings were small but the portions were a little small. For my entrée I ordered the kung pao chicken and my S.O. ordered the special fried rice. The kung pao chicken was nearly $13. It wasn't large enough to share. I thought it was amazing but a little pricey. The kung pao chicken came with a small serving of white rice. My S.O.'s fried rice was really great as well. It was also on the small side for $10. Towards the end of our meal, we decided to order another kung pao chicken since we weren't exactly full. I can gripe about the prices all I want and how sitting next to strangers annoys the hell out of me. But one thing is for certain: their food is absolutely delicious. And if sitting next to strangers bothers me that much, I can always order it to go, or have it delivered. Get the Kung Pao Chicken! read more

The family style seating sometimes puts you at an odd proximity to strangers but rarely has this been an issue. There are some serious Americanized Chinese gems on this menu. I usually start with the Steamed Vegetable Bun (2 for $5) even though they taste like they are from the grocery store. Eggplant in Garlic Sauce ($9.5) is a common dish uncommonly dressed in a savory thick and sweet dark garlic sauce which I crave every time I'm here. My friend will only eat the Green Soy Peas with To-Fu Sheet ($9), and so I strongly recommend both! And yes, the cucumber salad ($4) is just cumbers in sweet and sour dressing and can be very refreshing, if you need that kind of thing. Portions here look small, but they somehow go a long way. Also, during a recent take out night I learned that M make the best Sautéed Lotus Roots ever ($9.5)! The drink menu is uninspired, and there is nothing worst then seeing a bottle of wine selling for +$25 that I have sitting at home for -$10. read more

I went to M Shanghai for a birthday party get-together. 20 of us took over two of the long, communal dining tables and tucked in for a multi-houred meal of many drinks, appetizers and entrees. Our server was friendly, but obviously overwhelmed, and we had to remind him frequently about the drinks we had ordered (note to servers everywhere - never forget to bring the drink! this is basically free money!) and the entrees appeared sporadically meaning that some chowed down while others looked on longingly. The food was pretty decent, but I didn't find it particularly unique. Relaxed environment and the lounge downstairs is a perfect place to retire to after the meal. read more

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I come here all the time and I've come to the conclusion that the only thing really amazing here are the soup dumplings. I think the restaurant is cute, with nice staff and decent decor. It's usually a little too loud and I end up screaming my conversation to my party. Time and again I try the various dishes on the menu besides the dumplings and I'm always underwhelmed. The fried rice isn't even really fried, the shanghai noodles are simply a stir fried udon... the list goes on. Even the scallion pancakes are too doughy to really catch my interest. The prices are really high for what you get. There's also something wrong with their draft system. I always order a pint and its always on the warm side... not really cold enough to enjoy. I'll keep coming back but I'll save my money and focus on only the soup dumplings which really are great and way more convenient versus going into the city for them. read more

Good place! Food is tasty and not expensive at all. Full plate with appetizers and Argentinian wine for $25. I doubt anyone can beat that deal! Service was weird tho, but who cares I went for the food!! read more

M Shanghai - Shanghainese Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Just got back from this place. What can I say? I loved it! I love when Chinese places have Sauvignon by the glass. And I love when staff is real-friendly and real-good (I have a feeling for fake-friendly and fake-good is obvious for everyone) And I couldn't love my first this place less than I did for another guest who rocked the place with a cool track and dancing. Generally living in the hood I'm def going back! And I loved the $3 house special Chinese beer! And yes -the patio is ideal for this time of the year. Catch your spot! read more

Ordered delivery from them at 11:30 on a Saturday night, and they showed up in about 25 minutes, so, major points there! Had the soup dumplings and tic tac chicken - both very very good, not greasy at all - pretty much as upscale as you're gonna get with Chinese food. And also major points for putting a native English speaker on the phone orders. No screaming or speaking slowly necessary. Bonus. Only really deducting a star for the price point - pretty overpriced. My smallish meal for one came to $22 with tax and tip - high for Chinese. But I think it's more like Hipster Chinese than Bullet-Proof Ghetto Chinese, so, you get what you pay for! read more

Still very much in love with this jawn. On a recent visit, tried the morning glory in tea sauce, which had a very distinct smoky flavor. The tofu dish I tried was made with silk tofu which was hard to eat with chopsticks but pretty tasty. The soup dumplings are still legendary, and as always I wish I was eating them right now. read more

I was thoooooroughly pleasantly surprised with this place. Tucked away in williamsburg, i was expecting just to find some hipster bar where i'd keep drinking. Low and behold, when i entered, my friends and i were confused why we were smelling this amazing chinese aroma. We thought nothing of it and continued to the bar area downstairs. As one by one we trickled back upstairs to use the bathroom, we discovered that chinese food WAS being served there! We immediately sat down and ordered the shredded chicken (can't remember the exact name) and the chicken wings. OUT OF THIS WORLD. The chicken was bursting with amazing and fresh flavors - the fried chicken wings had an undercurrent of curry flavor which was amaaaazing. Fried to a golden delicious finish. Next time i visit this place, i plan on not being soooo intoxicated so i can really cherish all the menu has to offer. :) Go and check it out! read more

I went here very late and my party of 10 people was seated promptly. The service was quick and everything was going well.....until......a roach appeared on the table(I'm talking large, juicy, tentacle flaring) as some of the dishes were brought out. It was a total buzz kill...I know that this is brooklyn, but yuck.The server quickly brought out a huge bucket and dropped the baby in, so swiftly that this probably wasn't the first time this happened. We pretty much all lost our appetite and when the check was brought out nothing was done to alter the total. We had to speak the server and they eventually made some changes. On the way out I noticed that this place had a 'grade pending' sign...so there. read more

Consistently mediocre... 2 stars for chinese food 3 stars for chinese american food 4 stars for proximity to my house. Since you cant get soup dumplings anywhere else in williamsburg, I guess these will do. and that is my rave review. however, the morning glory dish is tasty and the service was good. The rest of the food tastes like the butt end of that 'Bangcock' joke meanwhile a big bucket of mediocrity sits in the back and their throwing handfuls into every dish. read more

Pretty standard Chinese (although definitely way better than your average neighborhood takeout joint), but their soup dumplings here are outstanding; they're probably the best you'll find on this side of the East River. Super flavorful, piping hot, always intact (even with delivery!), and just the thing for soaking up the last of your hangover. Their fried dumplings and sticky rice shumai are also delicious, and I love that they have a lot of dim sum options for appetizers. The only thing you should stay away from here are drinks; although they have a full bar, their mixed drinks are way overpriced, small, and watered down. Stick to beer or slurping the soup out of your dumplings instead. read more

Delivery came on time and a little earlier than expected. The steamed pork dumplings were really yummy. My picky 8 yo neice even tried one and actually liked it. The spring rolls were also delicious. Over all, worth ordering from here, if you're hankering for some tasty Chinese. read more

While M Shanghai is far from authentic, it is definitely one of my favorite Chinese restaurants of all time. Sure, it is a little unnerving to walk into a Chinese restaurant and see nothing but tattooed caucasians working the front of house, but I assure you, the food, service and ambiance are incredibly on point here. Capitol "L" LEGIT. If you're been here even once, I'm sure you're a fan and you don't need to read much further (hence, 4 star average over 200 reviews). However, if you have never been to M Shanghai, and you're at home reading this wondering if it is for you, I'm going to tempt you with an itemized list of why i absolutely love and adore this restaurant. -SOUP DUMPLINGS (if you live in the area and have not tried these here, you're f*ckin' up) -"Sliced Crispy Chicken with Ginger in Sweet Chili Sauce " [(#60) - HUGE fave] -Seafood dumplings -shanghai lo-main [best ever (?)] -their backyard -$3 beers during happy hour -their pork wonton soup actually saved my life a few winters ago -SUPER cheap lunch specials -baby back ribs -spicy kung poa chicken is top notch -staff/service is quite remarkable -crispy duck with pancakes and plum sauce (should need no explanation) -dinner prices aren't too shabby either -good "vibe" -you just may get to see my strikingly handsome face here read more

I'm new to Williamsburg & after (mumbles) years in Washington, DC, I am LOVING getting back to things I missed about NYC like its myriad food delivery options and Chinese/Chinese-American restaurants. My first foray back into Chinese was at M Shanghai. Terrific steamed pork dumplings, and light and crispy scallion pancake for starters, and then chicken in garlic sauce for an entree. I'll be ordering those dumplings a lot. Smooth, tender pork filling with no noticeable fat. Well seasoned too, and the wrappers were just the right thickness. It's on the pricier spectrum of Chinese delivery, but not too expensive. Good value and quality. read more

Some people who come here don't realize you come here for the soup dumplings. I spent my last New Year's Eve Dinner here, and there was a large party of 15 hipster folks, and NO ONE ordered the soup dumplings!!! Heresy. But that's ok, it'll be my secret. No one seems to believe me that M Shanghai has the best soup dumplings in NYC (ok maybe not in Queens or Flushing). Joe's? Please. The shrimp and vegetarian dumplings are also great. I also love their hot and sour soup. read more

This little gem is nothing short of a fantastic place to get your fix on dumplings. Without fail, the consistency in quality holds a punch that keeps you coming back over and over. The steamed juicy pork buns are always my go-to and no matter the season, they serve as a comfort food when needing a warm hug. I've had almost every single entree and can attest, this place knows what they're doing! Staff is always friendly and attentive and did I mention...the steamed juicy pork buns. read more

It's the only place I know that boasts both Chinese food and bluegrass. I'm a fan of the tic tac toe chicken. read more

An appetizer reads, "Sliced Beef marinade (Cold)" but should read "(Nearly Frozen)." This was not good, very chewy, too cold to really taste. Then, a special Hot and Sour Soup was neither! It was just sweet. I had to dump an entire jar of chile paste from the table into my soup so that it might begin to resemble some heat. Oh, that's right, AND I had to send a glass of wine back. It had to be several days old. Stick with beer. Or someplace else entirely. read more

Four stars purely for the Soup Dumplings. A friend had recently used to word "unctuous" to describe the broth in some place's soup dumplings, which I'd thought was weird. But as I slurped up the thick, gorgeous soup, all I could think was: "this broth is unctuous defined." The couple shoved next to us had four plates of the Soup Dumplings stacked up, which was overkill, but I was sad when our one plate was gone. The "Amazing Salt & Chili Pepper Shrimp" was okay. The shrimp were real small, but tasty. Not amazing by any stretch, but not bad. I probably wouldn't order these again. And the Spicy Wontons in Peanut Sauce, so heavily discussed here, were a complete letdown. The meat looked and tasted processed. The sauce was watery, and didn't stick to the wonton. I definitely wouldn't order this again. Of non-food note, the shared tables were a bit cramped. But there you go. For great soup dumplings in wburg, worth it. read more

I can't believe it took my boyfriend and I TWO YEARS to find this place in the neighborhood. We'd been living a sad life without good Chinese food until last night when we finally had their soup dumplings, flavorful soup and great entrees. M Shanghai, I'm so glad we finally met. read more

Amazing food and amazing atmósfera. I'm definitely coming back again , I'm loving this place .

Place is $$$$! Dumplings are possibly the best i've ever had... not that i have had so many dumplings before... but they are damn good. Cool music and a very casual dining experience... also good price for the value. Highly recommend!! read more

Literally our family go to soup dumpling spot in Brooklyn. It's never crowded so it's easy to tow the kids along. The food is always amazing! Our favorites include soup dumplings, Awesome/Amazing Beef -it is what it says awesome, Kung pao chicken, sautéd veggies read more

After reading the reviews, I'm not sure why I was surprised with the food but I was. The presentation was good. The quality--eh. My baseline was neighbourhood Chinese restaurants and it didn't even meet those standards. We got hot and sour soup. The tofu wasn't fresh, for one; secondly, the virtually undetectable chicken has no flavour. Our second dish was just as bad. This place is not on my list of revisits. Quality is the main issue with this restaurant for me but the customer service, I'd have to say, was pleasant. Still, I'll never be back here again. read more

They don't mess around with those pork buns. I woke up the next day salivating just thinking about them. Oh yeah, the other food... it's seriously good, too. As a group of 4 we split the crispy duck, the shredded beef with chili pepper, and the mu shu pork Conveniently enough, I just listed these entrees in order of deliciousness. The duck absolutely won the award. The shredded beef was really flavorful and spicy. And the pork was good, but greasy. At that point I was so full of pork buns, duck, and beef that I could take only a few bites of the pork. As for other details, we only had to wait about 20 minutes for a table on a busy Saturday night. In terms of price, the dinner ended up being nicely affordable (about $40/person for 2 orders of pork buns, 3 entrees, and at least one alcoholic drink each). I'm definitely sold on this place for non-hole-in-the-wall-Chinese-place Chinese (how's THAT for a compound adjective?) read more

Juicy pork buns are off the chain as everyone else has mentioned. I'm also a huge fan of the the Shanghai lo-mein. Ask for it spicy! Always had great service. Nicely laid out space. Just had our first experience eating in the garden. Beautiful back there. read more

Shanghai Bistro was a nice Yelp find...thank you fellow yelpers. We arrived unfortunately in the hour before dinner and it was a ghost town. So we went to get a pre-dinner drink and returned. They have a nice eclectic menu and we found a few things that looked interesting. We excitedly ordered the Pork Buns, but were disappointed to realize they were really dumplings, not "pork buns." So, we tried the dumplings, which were tasty, but not out of this world. Pretty standard, BUT fresh and yummy. We also had a noodle soup and some chicken and broccoli. All was freshly cooked, not too over done, and perfectly satisfying. All in all, this is a chinese food spot where you can get fresh, not overly-greasy food prepared well. It's nothing out of this world, but if I lived in the neighborhood I could see it being a go-to spot for those chinese cravings. So if you're in the neighborhood and are thinking Chinese, check it out for yourself! I'm pretty sure you won't be too disappointed... read more

Our Sunnyside neighbors (who used to live in Williamsburg) raved about this place when I told them I've never had soup dumplings. So off we went on a quest to try these magical balls of deliciousness...and what a feast we had! We ended up doing family style and ordered all of the following. I don't have complaints about a single thing. Everything was amazing and flavorful. I probably could've done without the lo mein, but otherwise we couldn't stop eating until nothing was left. I'm still dreaming about the juicy pork buns and the crispy chicken with ginger. Save yourself the ridiculous crowds in Chinatown and venture into Brooklyn for this gem! -Veggie Spring Rolls -Steamed Pork Dumplings -Juicy Pork Buns -Fried Chicken Wings -Shanghai Style Lo Mein -Sliced Crispy Chicken with Ginger in Sweet Chili Sauce -Sliced Beef with Scallion and Onion in Brown Sauce (aka Awesome Beef) read more

Should be more like "hip" sum as confirmed by Elliott Smith playing in the background. This place, although just shy of some of the real spots in San Francisco, is definitely a "go to" if you want a fresh meal in Brooklyn. The rather hot pork buns are excellent (please blow with mouth prior to consuming) The service is solid and the full bar is a nice addition as well. Check this gem out! read more

M Shanghai is my go-to Chinese restaurant in Williamsburg. I have not been to their new location since they moved to Grand St., but I do order delivery often. The food is much better and quite different from most other Chinese restaurants I've tried before. A friend of mine lived in China for several months and swears their wonton soup is just like over there - legit! It's a bit on the pricey side by Chinese food standards, but it's worth it. Awesome dishes; Steamed Juicy Pork Buns Spicy Wontons Wonton Soup (veg. or pork) Sauteed Chinese Broccoli in Oyster Sauce Slice Beef with Scallion and Onion in Brown Sauce Sweet & Sour Pork If you order the Lo Mein, which is good, just note the noodles are VERY THICK, was not used to that. read more

I'm a fan of their Shanghai Vegetarian Dumpling Soup. It's SO GOOD. The dumplings are full of shitake mushrooms and the broth has a few ribbons of seaweed swimming around in it. Their meat (chicken or beef) + hot peppers stir fry is greasy, salty, and searingly spicy. By that I mean the kind of Chinese food you can't stuff into your mouth fast enough. Mmmm. Everything else is far from amazing so stick to these two things. read more

Juicy pork buns. Thank you. This place seriously has the best soup dumplings I've ever had. All of the entrees are delicious. Strong in flavor and afterward I don't feel weighed down. Whenever I'm in BK I always make a stop. read more

We came here today for a late lunch. The place was pretty quiet around 2:30pm. A friend recommended it saying they have some really good chinese food. He was right! Here is our order: - Soup Dumplings: This is a must order for everyone. Don't think twice, just order them. - Scallion Pancake: Oh man was this good! We should've ordered two. - Fried Vegetable Dumplings: These were decent. If you're in the mood I'd order them. - Awesome Beef (aka Beef with Scallion and Onion): This also a must order. We liked it so much that we ordered a second dish after we finished lunch. This might be the best beef with scallion and onion dish I've ever had. - Kung Pao Chicken: Ehh.. not too memorable. This dish was ok. I'd prolly order something else in its place next time. - Cold Noodle in Spicy Peanut Sauce: Another must order. We really enjoyed this dish. Great mix of noodles, veggies and sauce. The service was great. The atmosphere was great. The food was great. This place is a hit. YOU SHOULD EAT HERE. read more

My wife and I have been coming to M. Shanghai for a few years. It is one of the most reliable Chinese restaurants in the city in that the food is excellent, it's extremely unassuming, and there's almost never a wait. Im always amazed that it's not more crowded given its ultra-trendy location in Williamsburg. In any case, we always order the same 3 things which I highly recommend: -the scallion pancakes. These are incredible in flavor and size. Super generous portion. These are far superior to the scallion pancakes at the far trendier Birds of a feather restaurant a few blocks away. -chicken Lo mein- excellent -Amazing Beef- beef and green onion dish. Very tasty. Could have a little more beef but overall excellent read more

Hot and Sour Soup was sublime. Fresh thinly sliced snow peas and carrots and Shitake Mushrooms elevate this old standard into something special. Spicey Wontons come in a very light peanut sauce. Delicious Dim Sum Flavors. Juicy Pork Dumplings (the famous soup dumpling) are very tasty! Kind of like essence of Chinese Bacon Infusion. Intense, Hot and So so Juicy. Sesame Pancakes were very greasy and not fluffy like the one's I'm accustomed to. They don't seem to have the pickled cucumber and carrots which are often served with this in China Town. We also had Crispy Duck, Scallion Beef and Mu shu Duck (with Hoisin and tortilla-esque wraps). All were incredibly flavorful and fresh. My only criticism is that the prices ($6 for 6 dumplings to me seems exorbitant) Yes these are not your ordinary dumplings in a seedy, cheap dumpling bar, but still the prices are certainly made to target a yuppy-hipster clientele and with the full bar, decor and location in Prime 'burg, the strategy is destined to make this place a success. read more

The first time I went I had the crispy duck which was good, crunchy, crisp skin but anything fried always puts a smile on my face. It was a bit boring but If you have craving for duck it does satiate. I would order it again. Kung Pao chicken didn't really have that much Pow. It was really really greasy and chicken pieces were chopped too tiny. I wasn't that impressed with this first visit but i figured I'd give it a second shot since someone had mentioned that the dumplings are the best. Second visit I had the pork dumplings which come served in a small steamer, all the dumplings were stuck together and hard to separate without breaking them. They were hot and tasty but not anywhere near as good as Joe's Shanghai, Joe's Ginger or Shanghai Cafe in Manhattan. I ordered another chicken dish and again, chopped too small, looking like Fancy Feast. Taste was decent but I didn't like the execution. Even though it's right around the corner from where I live, I don't plan on going to M Shanghai Bistro again. I'd rather trek into the city for the super yummy soup dumplings & authentic Chinese fare for a better flavor and cheaper price. M Shanghai Bistro is more for ambience & people. It's packed with young hipsters who eat here 'cuz it's in the hood and they've never experienced authentic Shanghai dumplings. Sad to say but it is one of the better Chinese places in Williamsburg. read more

Whenever my boyfriend or sister are in town they want to come here. The Juicy Pork Buns are what everyone dreams about. The hot and sour soup is AMAZING. I get the chicken broccoli alot, its not a typical chicken and broccoli dish bc the broccoli is more like broccolini but i really like that. Anything we have ever ordered here, we are happy with. The bartender is friendly, the service is quick, and we have just began ordering in from here and that has been great too. I am always shocked at the bill, because it is so cheap! I usually drink tea here and I get a big pot for $4. If you start drinking cocktails and beers it will add a pretty penny to your check, but every once in awhile you gotta treat yo self! Sidenote: We recently tried "M Bistro" which we assume is owned by the same owner in Greenpoint and were very disappointed... I will always come to this original location. read more